₦airaland Forum

Rossikk: Many errors in this write up, and many unfounded assumptions. For instance, international oil companies are now obliged by law to invest in public infrastructure projects like power plants before they can be allowed to operate in Nigeria's oil and gas industry. Also the Local Content Act, whose existence you seem unaware of, has opened the field for indigenous firms to participate extensively in the oil industry. Also, nations like Brazil, South Africa, Ghana and India are practicing pretty much the same economic model as Nigeria is, and their growing success shows we can also be successful. The thing about basing your ideas on writers like Walter Rodney is that you become intellectually fixed, like him, on an inflexibly negative trajectory, even when daily events run contrary to your conclusions.

The oil companies are obliged by law to build infrstructures. Can you please name some of the infrastructtures provided?

Yes, the Local content policiy is a long overdue. How much have they enforced it? And why did we have to wait until now?

What about all the things we use in this country? Can't we at least get back our car/bus assembly plants and protect them. I mean Anamco, Peuguet, volkswagens and co.

What about teh rice that we still import massively? What about Cement? How far have government gone to mechanise our farms and make it friendly?

What about importing plastic waste bins from UK that GEJ tried? In Enugu state, they imported iron watse bins. Are we not better off with even baskets? Jobs will be created with that.

Almost all the major Banking Application in Nigeria is imported. Finacle in particular is just a web application; yet billions are paid annualy as maintenance fees. In UK, I have seen banks use excel sheets to great affects. Their banks develop their applications inhouse. Job are created by that. In Nigeria, we rather buy any rubish.

Defunct Savannah bank paid out over 800million naira then to buy a rubbish banking application.

Development started from our head. We must first build a self-believe in our people. We must remove the inferiority complex that Colonialisation built inside our people. This is the basics for any reasonable government.

Our government spent billions buying a fake satelite because the British wanted us to buy and not because it is our needs. So they also wanted us to buy minature nuclear reactors until what happened in Japan scared hell out of them.

(I know much about the nuclear reactors and how it was packaged. You guys should search for information for the good of our country. I have less time to be writing in order to spoon feed you with facts. You should immagine that i am stealing my management time to be writing this. I am supposed to be working to justify my salary)

Growth without development: A response to the President’s Economic Team.

‘

In recent times, the economists have been recognizing in colonial and pre-colonial Africa, a pattern that has been termed “growth without development”. That phase has now appeared as the title of books on Liberia and Ivory Coast. It means that goods and services of a certain type are on the increase. They may be rubber and coffee exported, there may be more petrol station built to service the cars. But the profit goes abroad, and the economy becomes more and more dependency on the metropoles. In no African colony was there economic integration, or any provision for making the economy self-sustaining and geared to its own local goals. Therefore, there was growth of the so called “enclave” import/export sector, but the only things which developed were dependency and under-development.
A further revelation of growth without development … was the over dependency on one or two export. The term “monoculture” is used to describe those colonial economies ….’

Walter Rodney, How Europe underdeveloped Africa, 1972 (page. 284).

The above was the case thirty years ago, in 1972; and still is. This was observed, analysed with solutions given by a renowned activist cum scholar, Walter Rodney – a hero that rivaled Malcom X, Martin Luther King and the rest, in his love for our race; one that was wickedly assassinated in 1980, for his principled fight against all oppressors. We must ask: why has economic geniuses at Aso Rock failed to get this simple truth?

Since the days of IBB, when SAP was imposed on us against our wish, we have been bombarded with figures, show-casing the growth of this economy. In particular, Okwonjo Iweala, both during Obasanjo’s regime and in the present Jonathan administration, has persistently poured out figures to justify the growth of our economy. When we complain about an obvious dying economy, they bamboozle us with growth numbers. Yet they could not explain why our companies have been closing up; they could not disprove the fact that our people are having fewer jobs every day; nor justify the ever dwindling quality of our lives.

When we call them names; people think we are troublesome. The people fail to tie the links between our past and our present, and how these people that called themselves our leaders have proved over the years to be either “un-intelligent” or willfully anti-masses and sellouts.

How else can one explain that a basic truth revealed over thirty years ago; not in a hidden treasure, but in a popular book by a popular author whose works and life was known to scholars of history and the international socio-economics cannot be understood? How can a disease that was perfectly diagnosed still be ravaging our economy and our people, thirty years after? Why has no one been able to imbibe and follow-through the ideas laid bare by Walter in his analysis?

Are we to believe, they are agents meant to keep us permanently underdeveloped, or unwitting accomplices of the powers that want us permanently down? In seeking to answer this question, taking into cognizance the millions of lives that have been allowed to waste because our so-called leaders and geniuses failed to do the right thing; we do loose our cool and call them names. Seriously, those that lack the intelligence or the gut to make sound economic decisions required to improve the lives of our people should take the back seat, and let the country progress. They should head to their villages; even with our stolen funds.

A President that cannot reshape our economy should give us a break; so shall his ministers. Our lives and wellbeing, as Nigerians is worth more than the ambition of any man or any tribe. The economy of Nigerians; the lives of the millions of Nigerian youths wasting without jobs is our supreme challenge that must be solved.

I know that the North who has produced more Presidents than the southern part is not better than us. The Yoruba race did not benefit more from Obasanjo’s eight years rule than others. We know they’ve empowered few of their tribe’s men and friend, in our usual corrupt ways; but the lives of an average Northerner and Yoruba man benefitted nothing. It is therefore, worthy when we fight, even at the risk of our lives, to “once in a life-time” elect a government that can start to tackle the “African problem”. Ethnic politics and sentiments that leave us with stooges, who lack solutions to our malaise as a country must not be tolerated.

Therefore, it is shameful that Okwonjo Iweala and her team, who confesses to several Harvard degrees and years of working experience in World Bank and IMF, cannot get a simple truth hidden in a simple book, by a simple hero – Walter Rodney. It is appalling that those that rush to London and New York in search of remedies to cure our land; failed to look beside their noses, in a remedy revealed thirty years ago in our own African soil, by a fellow Black compatriot. I need not say that the solutions to our socio-economic problems as a people are here with us, if only we can think and open our eyes.
When we lament the massive brainwash in our land; when we say that their years in World Bank was meant to groom them as perfect stooges, our people fail to understand. When we call them sellout, few believe us. But we take solace in the fact that posterity will prove us right.

In one last attempt to prove our case against them, I our people to ask a simple question: why would the same people that supervised the throwing away of $16billion dollars in payment of a fraudulent debt few years ago, be leading us back to borrowing in the midst of increasing oil revenue. My answer is that the relation between Nigerian and their masters is like that between a Bank and its customers.

A bank exists to make money off its uninformed customers. A bank would not mind a customer saving deposit and borrowing at the same time, because it will always make a margin from the differential between the lending and the deposit rate. The economic team either know this very well and willingly chooses not to protect us; or worse still, have unwittingly been brainwashed to copy whatever lies, their masters at IMF and World Bank have proffered to us, and paste on us as solution. “Copying and pasting” is intellectual fraud; Offering solutions copied from books or persons without proper testing in foolish.

In 1979, Obasanjo was lured into borrowing when we had no need for it. Their argument is that nations are expected to borrow. Today, we are back to it. Old arguments have been resuscitated to prove that Nigerian is under-borrowing. But to the simple sincere mind, I ask: do we borrow for fun?

I challenge, Okwonjo Iweala to show how she has expanded the number of Nigerian jobs in the oil and gas sector? She should show us which benefits from the massive oil industry have trickled down to the lives of an average Nigerian? She should tell us what efforts have been made in the past fourteen years of PDP rule, to define our economy based on our indigenous needs? She should explain how she managed to overlook the massive outflows of money and resources from our economy to the home of her masters in London and New York?

Daily, they tell us the size of the trade between Nigeria and countries of their masters. They tell us that the figures have been growing. But they hide the fact that the figures represent massive outflow of resources and finance out of our economy. We know we have been trading with the West for over 500 years ago. Walter Rodney showed how the terms of the trade have left us worse off. He proved that the terms were imposed on our fore-fathers with the force of arm. Today, our geniuses have refused to re-negotiate these ever changing unfair terms that have killed our economy. We keep engaging in an economic game as defined by our competitor who has made themselves the umpire, and expect to win. We have countries like China and the Asian powers; we have the countries of South America as examples to follow – countries that refused unfavourable terms of trade for the good of their economies.

The other day, a later day convert, Soludo took up columns in newspapers to warn of an impending disaster if we are to agree to new trade terms by European Union. He perfectly called it second slavery. I am yet to know Okwonjo’s response to it. I am yet to learn how my country wants to check us from those dangerous trade terms. I have no trust that they will represent our nation’s interest, because on several instances they have sold out.

Okwonjo Iweala as a student of economy and one who has been at the World Bank/IMF circles to clearly understands the basic economic principles that drives World Free Trade; knows that goods and services counts like labour as tradables in economics. She knows that free movement of labour will have same impact on world economy as free movement of goods and services. But she failed to make a case for free movement of labour in the manners they imposed free movement of goods and services on us. She failed to advise the government to make a case that will be in our benefit. So, she either lack what it takes to fight for us as a people, or has willfully taken side with our oppressors.

I was discriminated upon in Britain when I was searching for jobs, with all necessary work permits as required by their laws. The unwritten rule is jobs for White Europeans first. But in my own country, I was told a choice job was reserved for Europeans. The essence of working permit is to control movement of labour; and it is for the disadvantage of third world economies. Has Okwonjo as an “intellectual” that she pretends to be, ever challenged the unfair system? If we are to allow free movement of goods and services across our borders; are we not supposed to allow free movement of labour, since both are guided by same rule in Economics? This cannot be, because it is not in the interest of Okwonjo Iweala’s masters.

I challenge every Nigerian scholars go through what Walter Rodney have for us in his book: “How Europe underdeveloped Africa”; and observe how this so-called leaders have failed to change our present from our yesteryears. I want my people to see how the growth without development of our economy is a consequence of the massive resources being taken out of our land, by foreign interests whom this series of government we have had protects.

If the successive increase in our output have been reinvested over the years, our economy would have been much better; our people would have had more jobs. If the likes of Shell, Chevron, Mobil, Total and the rest have been compelled to re-invest a certain percentage of the billion dollars they repatriate home yearly as profits; our graduate would have had more jobs.

These cannot be because ours is a “Flag Independence”.


http://godmanaleke..com/2013/06/growth-without-development-response-to.html

mezdim: Tourching indeed,i nearly cried but because i have been so so so happy because am bring forth a great man soon by the special grace of God,i held my tears.

Bro,i dont really want to empathise with you so you will be stronger.i only want to tell you what i did to come out of this challenge.i will want to ask first? Are you a Winner? i mean do you worship in cannanland ota,ogun state? if you do,then,there is something you must have missed out but if you dont,try it with your wife,if possile do everything you can to tourch The Bishop's garmrnt,shoe,seat anything,and i am confident to tell you that your wife will be looking for her monthly cycle the next time.i put this to 10 women who needs the fruit of the womb,try it and see How God dont dispoint his prophets.I did this,and today am 6months gone and expecting twins,I pray that it works for you and the 10 others who may want to try The God of Shiloh,The God of faith Tabanacle and The God of Bishop Oyedepo.

God bless You.

Gbam, Gbam, Gbam; Una Una Una. Niaja foooooooooooooooo...... No be me go complete am

amdman: My child,

Its just over 31 months since that day I took the stroll down the aisle with your mummy and said our vows before God and man. Since that day, we have been waiting expectantly for you. Sometimes we wonder what is taking you so long. Sometimes we imagine its taking so long because you must be very special. Most times our hearts have remained undoubtedly sure that your coming is very close, and in fact closer than we think. But then, you do not need to keep us waiting anymore.

But don’t think we have not done our fair share of things that are believed will make you come quickly. I have been severally tested and found to be perfect, having millions of you inside me. Mummy has been severally tested too and everything is in place, no cysts, no fibroids. And we have sown seeds too, financially and otherwise. We have invested in other children and continue to do so. We have followed plethora of advice on what and what not to do. We have not allowed our expectations to metamorphose into anxiety… yet you are yet to come.

And you know what? Mummy needs you! There is just something about African culture and the African woman that has made having you a certificate of completeness. You are the very person she needs right now. She has God, she has me, but she needs you to balance the equation. She has heard how discomfiting pregnancy can be... and how much more painful labour is too. But I can tell you that she is ready to go through all of that and more just to have you. Mummy G that has a 3yr-old and a 2yr-old just gave birth another 2 months ago. Mummy T that has a 2yr+ old is already carrying another. These people live in the same compound with mummy. Infact, your uncle and aunty that married after your mummy and daddy already hold their children in their hands. Granddaddy and Grandmummy are not putting mummy under pressure. They call her from time to time to encourage her to be patient. My siblings and hers do the same too. But little by little, mummy is beginning to put herself under pressure. I am doing everything I can to help her, but I need you to help me.

And don’t think that I don’t want you too! I want you with the last drop of my blood. I love you so much my heart literally aches sometimes. Children’s day was celebrated yesterday in church and it was beautiful. My eyes were flooded with tears to see so many lovely children showcasing their talents. I know that if you were here, you would have been one of the best! Anyway, I bought some gifts for children that are needy on your behalf; so know that your name is already recorded in church!

Today is Children's Day. If you were here, I would have taken the day off work to have fun with you at Inspiration FM’s Children Day’s Carnival at Dreamworld Africana. We would have had many lovely rides and yummy ice cream together, and I would have been overwhelmed just to hear you laugh. Nothing can describe how I would feel just to hold you in my arms knowing that you are my seed become flesh.

Please do not heed all the bad news on the airwaves and think the world is bad place. Do not listen to statistics that show that Nigeria is uninhabitable. We have sworn to do all we can to make the world a beautiful place for you. You will meet many challenges, but most importantly, you would have been prepared to overcome them.

I have to stop now because am in the office and my eyes are teary again. My boss just asked what’s wrong my eyes (lol) so I have to run before they find I have been crying. But am not ashamed to cry if it will make you come quickly. I know that we will surmount any mountain to finally have you in our arms… it’s just that waiting can be so hard sometimes.

We love you as no other human can ever and will ever do.

From the best Dad you could ever have,

M

Yea, this is a beautiful piece and I pray God give him one niece baby soon.

But I want all of us to be realistic and think about the place marked red.

Is the country really a good place to have a baby? Have we in all honestly tried to make this place the best place for our babies and other people's babies who are as good as ours (honestly, it makes me mad when I see people cherish their onw babies in neglect of other people's babies. This is our usual selfishness). The fact is that so many of us want to have children just in the same way we want to own the world only by ourself. Is it all about "me me me me"? What about the happiness of others.

I do not have a child; not even married yet and getting closer to 40; I pray I have a baby; but if I have a choice; let me make myself and every citizen of our nation (Blackman in preference [because we have been so much abused and neglected in our world]); than to have a baby.

If I can do both; wonderful. If it must be one, let the other come first.

Let drop our materialistic and personalistic tendencies for a better life.

When we die, we die alone; when we live; our children live their own separate life. We have more life with our mates that younger children who may even share more likings with their fellow youths.

Let wake up guys

oddy4real: the point is not about Budget. they do not have the power to ask the Executive not to award a contract. simples

Can you award a contract outside funds that have been approved in the budget? What if such funds have not been approved?

Also they can pass anything in terms of resolution if considered to be in the interest of the nation. And if enough of them are convinced the President did enough harm by neglecting any of their resolution, an i,impeachment process can be started.

Mark my word: enough of them!!!

Afam4evaIsASlut: Even though I am doing my darndest to convince myself that I am replying a Billy-Goat that has been someone trained by scientists how to talk, I will refrain from insulting you and pretend that I am discussing with a human being.

YOU DO NOT OUTSOURCE YOUR INTERNAL SECURITY TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT COULD TURN HOSTILE AT ANY MOMENT!

You want the Israelis to help you monitor your citizens emails just because you do not want to be criticized?! Wooow..... You think the Israelis will stop at just the emails of ordinary citizens? They will monitor all Govt chatter too and where does that leave you? They will know all your trade secrets, your foreign policies and defense strategies. They will be privy to the conversations of your leading businessmen and whatever will not benefit their country they will shut it down in a heartbeat through clandestine moves; its like youre whispering your secrets in the ears of the enemy---- And, yes, anything non-Nigerian is your potential enemy, clown.

How easy do you think it will be to destabilize your country for their own benefit if they feel like? What stops them from pitting politicians against each other based on info theyve gleamed from their emails then plunging your country into chaos? You really think a foreign country will work in your best interest?

Naija man, stop being myopic and think on your own. Stand on your own two feet and stop letting the unbridled hatred in you caused by your intolerance of another's tribe and religion be the reason why your nation will end up in a bloody civil war.


P.S: The U.S Govt does not actively monitor its citizens emails without probable cause. That'll be a violation of my right to privacy. We got something called the First Amendment here and thats a very sacred right even Obama dare not violate.

Thanks for the lecture

oddy4real: many of the contributors here have a get a hold of themselves.
The House of Representative DO NOT have the powers to stop the President from enforcing a contract just as he CANNOT stop them from debating a bill. fine, there are separation of powers and yes, there are CHECKS AND BALANCES. While checking the powers of the other arm, you have your own limits as well.
The Primary function of the House of Representatives is to make Laws. furthermore, they have some other oversight functions. what they are trying to do is not part of the oversight functions.
i deride the House of Representatives for DELIBERATELY throwing 'blocks' on the President's way. Politics shoud not be played with everything.

Mr Tambuwwal should take note!

The Primary function of the House of Representatives is to make Laws. furthermore, they have some other oversight functions. what they are trying to do is not part of the oversight functions.

Are you aware that every penny the Executive spent must be passed in Budget; and that budget is a law? The question now becomes, was the security contract in the budget and if it is; does the Legislature have power to remove it?

From my humble understanding, if it is in the passed budget, the Rep will need the senate and the President assent or a 2/3 over-ride to reverse what is already passed in the budget. But if it is not; then the President has no power to spend such money.


Also remember the Rep have power to pass any resolution and can start an impeachment process against the President at will. However, to get through an impeachment process, the must follow the constitutional requirement and must get the support of the Senate.

In essence, in real democracy, the Legislature have more powers than the executive; but they must act as a group.

Mogidi: WELL DONE MR PRESIDENT


HATERS CAN GO GO JUMP INTO THE ATLANTIC


CARRY GO 2015

Sorry. We are not haters but reasonable people.

If you are truly happy in Nigeria; let discuss about you jobs. Let use you as a test case to prove how far this government have affected all of us

visalo: you are waiting for the president to give you work...continue waiting. am happy cus the president has given me enable evironment to do my business and create jobs for others

Can you tell me what an enabling environment is?
Can you rely on our courts and Police to get justice? Is your power there?
Won't police steal from you at the minimum opportunity?
Is your market protected from competition against more established companies oversea? In specifics can you compare your import tariffs with that of reasonable countries?

So please tell me how the President have given you enabling environment to do business. Go ask Obama when Americans harass him for jobs; if he hides under enabling environment. Even when we can see what an enabling environment is from their country.

Can you name a single entrepreneur that have made it in our country without stealing from government; or the government protecting his company against our people?

Unless if what you mean by reasonable environment is government patronage.

Tell me the top 10 rich guys in this country and I will prove to you that they stole from Nigerian people in coalition with our government.

In summary; our environment is killing. If we have no government; we can do better in business; but the government is a disservice to doing business outside stealing;

Maxymilliano: ABUJA— President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, gave a robust defence of his administration’s performance at mid-term and dismissed public and media assessment of his ministers, saying the criticisms were mostly bereft of objectivity.

President Jonathan spoke at the public presentation of the administration’s mid-term report in Abuja during which administration officials rolled out positive financial indicators which among others was that Nigeria has become the highest investment destination in the continent.

The presentation was graced by former Nigerian leaders, including former President Shehu Shagari, General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya; one-time United States presidential candidate, Jesse Jackson --1 among others.

Also present at the event were the Senate President, Sen. David Mark; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar.

Jackson, speaking at the occasion, commended the president for giving a mid-term report of his performance. He said that it was indicative that the ship of the nation was sailing in the right direction.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim also commended the leadership of President Jonathan, who he said had shown impressive democratic culture through his restraint in the face of unparalleled challenges to his authority.

President Jonathan was nevertheless dismissive of media assessment of his administration. He said that as a former teacher, he was conscious of the fact thatany examination should be guided by a marking scheme.

Challenges media of objective assessment

He thus challenged the media to use the 234-page report as a veritable tool for any objective assessment.

He said: “Only on Monday, I looked through a particular publication in one ofour dailies, which gave an assessment of the performance of the ministers.

“The first thing I looked for that I did not see was the criteria they used to assess the performance of the ministers. As a teacher, I know that for you to mark a student, you must have a marking scheme. Because, assessment could be very subjective, and if a fellow politician is assessing another politician, you assess the person based on heartbeats.”

He said two ministries; the ministries of Trade and Investments and National Planning which performed creditably well were rated average.

“Since I came to the centre in 2007, I have worked with three ministers of National Planning and three ministers of Trade and Investments. They have never done what is being done today.

“In terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) attracted to this country by activities of that ministry, it has never happened. In spite of our security challenges, there is so much interest from business men wanting to come to Nigeria.--2

“Before now, that Ministry of Trade and Investments was a dead end, but now they are very active. Talk about Ministry of Planning, people say that until Shamsudeen came on board, we did not even know that we had a Planning Ministry.

“But these two ministries were scored average and I asked what are the criteria?

That is the purpose of today, our elders, ladies and gentlemen. The idea is to formally present a document to all Nigerians about the activities of the government these past two years.

“I plead with all of us especially those who want to assess and write about it to develop criteria because without a marking scheme, you cannot mark anybody’s paper. Develop your own, compare with previous governments. Develop your marking scheme and mark us.”

Nigeria ‘s economy waxing strong — Okonjo-Iweala

Making her presentation earlier, the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that despite challenges of inequality and inclusion, the nation’s economy was waxing strong.

She said in the last two years, the GDP had recorded significant growth and dollar exchange rate had remained stable between N155 and N160.

She said the rate of inflation had dropped to 9.1 per cent from 12.4 per cent in May 2011, while the external reserve had risen from $32.08 billion in May 2011 to$48.4 billion as at May, 2013.

Specifically, she said the External Crude Account (ECA) had risen from about $4 billion in May, 2011 to about $9 billion at the end of 2012 and presently $6 billion in May 2013.

The minister said the ECA had been of help in improving the economy since oil production had fallen from the projected 2.53 million bpd to between 2.1 and 2.2 million bpd, adding that there were deliberate government policies to reduce recurrent expenditure and complete unfinished capital projects.

She said: ”Recurrent expenditure has dropped from 70.4 per cent of total budget in 2011 to 68.7 per cent in 2013″.

She added that government’s annual borrowing had fallen from N852 billion in2011 to N588 billion in 2013 while the debt to GDP is 21 per cent.

According to her, the administration’s waiver and tariff policies had also changed positively. She said: “Government is focusing on sectoral waivers such as agriculture, power, aircraft spare parts, solid minerals at zero duty. Trade has improved and exports are up in plastics and rubber, vegetable products, prepared food stuff and beverages.”

The minister explained that exports have increased from nine per cent in 2008 to 31 per cent in 2012, saying oil export had increased to 69 per cent of total exports compared to 91 per cent in 2008.

She said with over $7 billion foreign direct investment into the country in 2012, Nigeria has become the highest investment destination in Africa.--3

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman said the Federal Government has achieved eight of 14 points in its transformation agenda.

Giving sectoral appraisal of the achievements of the administration, he said the railway which had become irrelevant in the national transportation system for over 30 years was back on track, adding that the western rail corridor from Lagos to Kano as well as intra-city train servicesin Lagos, Kaduna and Kano are now fully operational.

In the road sector, the Minister said there had been key improvement on key access roads across the country, citing the Benin-Ore Road, Kano-Maiduguri Road and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road among others.
--4
The minister added that there has also been significant improvements in power and the government was working hard toensure that Nigerians were provided with uninterrupted power supply.

In agriculture, Usman said the administration had saved significant amount of money through the blocking of loopholes in the procurement of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs and ensuring the direct distribution to farmers. She added that with the policy, there has been increased production of crops like cassava, wheat and rice, thereby moving the country to self sufficiency in food and liberating the people from poverty.

He said there had also been a significant improvement in the airports across the country with the expansion, renovation and remodelling works in the existing airports.--4

Nigeria on right course — Jackson--5

Jackson, a 1994 and 1998 United States Democratic Party presidential candidate also speaking at the occasion, said there was much expectation on Nigeria as the most populous black nation on earth and that the country should not disappoint the world.

Appraising the mid-term report, he said that there was no doubt that Nigeria was on the right course and called for supportfrom every strata of society.

According to him, “the world takes Nigeria serious and it cannot afford to let the world down. Nigeria must do everything to get it right. It is an obligation that Nigeria must meet”.

Former head of the Interim Government in Liberia, Professor Amos Sawyer also speaking, praised Nigeria’s contributions to international peace keeping in the continent and thus urged the country’s political leaders to join hands at critical times of national challenges.

Anyim noted that the uncommon restraint by President Jonathan in the face of different provocative challenges had helped to deepen democracy in the last two years.

He noted that there had been unprecedented growth in the numbers of civil society groups and the administration had expanded and made the space free to encourage people to come together.

Anyim said the widened space had made citizens bolder and more assertive while opposition parties enjoyed total liberty.

The SGF said the Freedom of Information law made by the administration had granted unfettered freedom to the media while the judiciary had become the last hope of the common man

1. What has Nigeria got to do with Gowon, Shagari and Shonekan? Who among us does not know their antecedents? What did Gowon leave us with? A man that could not prosecute a war if not for Awolowo. A man that lost June 12 election in his ward. A man that has nothing to offer us as an ex-head of state than Nigeria pray. We know the ways and manners Shagari ran NPN and also how Shonekan was used and dumped by IBB/Abacha. They all just want to be relevant. We also know Diya for what he is. How I wish Almustapha can eb here to tell us more.

2.When they say Foreign Direct Investment, I ask where are the new companies? When our Brothers that are slaving themselves overseas send home money for the upkeep of their families; these criminals in Abuja adds up the figure and claim them to be investment. The Oyibos that manufacture the numbers know what they are doing. They want to proof we are not loosing out of the evil world trade they have imposed on us to our detriment; and these fools will accept the lies to further deceive us. There are very limited Foreign investment in this economy and they are all limited to oil and gas. How much oil and gas affected our lives? How many of us work in oil related companies. We need jobs and not figures. If we have jobs in our country, our brothers will not be enslaving themselves overseas.

3. Go dig out all that this woman said during Obasdanjo tenure and show me a difference. She knows how to confuse us with figures. In summary, how many of us of us can beat our heart and swear that our brothers age getting better paying jobs? Or that our businesses are making more profits? Or that our salary are able to purchase more and better items from the market? How many of us have had our salaries reviewed upward for the few that are working. This is a measure of economy and not lying figure manufactured by a lying woman. She has failed to tell us that shoe wasted our life saving paying a dubious debt just 7 years ago; only to have gone back to borrow billions (that will be waiting to accumulate more interest and penalty charges that we will battle to pay in a near future.) Whoever believes this woman can as well believe anything.

4. Trains are really back with 19th century locomotives running on primitive tracks. How many of us have given the train a trial. Remember it is only Lagos, kano abi Kaduna that these people are were able to touch. And remember it is an accumulative of all that Abacha/Obasano and Yar'adua wasted our money for. Why are they silent on power?


5. They claimed Fertilizers are every where. Even when I am in Lagos, I want Fertilizers in Enugu. Can someone tell me where to purchase fertilizers in Enugu for my old man's farm.

6. They should tell us who funded Jesse Jackson's coming and to what amount. When these American's are broke, they come to reap us off. Is that how we tend to run our fatherland. How many of us did Obama invite to come to America and show up his record?

Wake up Nigerians. The day we will get a good President; even the grasses will know it. Ask the old men of 1970's and 1980's; it took less than two months to know the direction Muritala and Buhari was taking us.

As for me, GEJ is on massive deception and is unworthy of that office; just like every other person that have ruled us outside the mentioned two.

GEJ have done well.

Our lights are back thanks to a POWER HOLDING COMPANY that is giving steady lights.

He has giving Corruption a good fight. Thanks to the reformation of Alams by granting him pardon. Thanks to our able courts that sentenced Ibori and not waiting for London Courts.

Our Youths are all back to work; to to a proactive government.

Our hospitals are back

Our road are now well maintained and without potholes;

Our Railways are working with good locomotives and not 19th century refurbished locomotives.

Our democracy has matured to the extent that we can now organise better election between 35 out of 36 state governors and know how to discredit it.

Our President can afford to get drunk in an international engagement while able Foreign affairs minister can just hadn in his papers.

Yea; GEJ has done well. He should not be called Ebeleme; he should be Igbonised to answer Azikiwe Ebele.

To hell with fools; I will never be part of them.

We need our land back; we need our societies back; we need our religion back; we need our culture back.

To hell with Western evil.They have crossed the Rubicon.

Welcome to the world of the clueless pretenders - Obi and GEJ

pro01: You're (conveniently) missing the point. The one who is power drunk is the one who, as the wise Igbo proverb goes, having had a heavy meal of pounded yam, rchallenges his chi to a fight for no.good reason. It is interesting you alluded to imprudent characters such as Sylva and Amaechi. The question that naturally arises is: What did they do to deserve it? Of all the governors in Nigeria and in the PDP specifically, why them?

Why is it so difficult for a governor to stay in his lane and allow the president stay in his own lane in peace? Does Jonathan strike you as a bully (e.g Obasanjo) who would pick on a random governor minding his own business just for the perverse thrill of it? If an over-ambitious governor decides to challenge the president, knowing the risk involved in such an undertaking, why should other sensible governors feel threatened.These are the real issues.

Every sensible governor, especially those in the president's party, knows that he is safe in his position as long as he faces the important matter of governing his state and ravoids needless battles. When you begin fancying yourself as more important and powerful than you really are, and foolishly challenge your 'innocent' chi to a fight, then you have no reason to feel victimised when you meet your inevitable doom.

It is unfortunate you are using a beautiful Igbo proverb to justify cowardice. If all of us are cowards, who will be the heroes? Amechi may be a hero in waiting. Even as little as i am GEJ cannot be my "Chi" because he is clueless and corrupt.

PDP should finish the JOB.

Let them suspend Kwankwaso, Babagida Aliyu and Chime of Enugu. Why are they deceiving themselves? The die is cast. PDP days as a political party is quickly coming to an end.

By the time they suspend all the rebels that is coming from the North (Every PDP member from the North wants the Presidency back to the North while my Igbo brothers are just oppurtunist waiting the Jump the winning team), there will be left only Niger delta members, substantial Igbos that cannot read the hand-writing-on-the-wall quickly and scattered members that can held together by patronage.

The fear of Buhari divided the north into two during the last election. If APC can solve this (as they seem to be doing), I see the remnants of Northern mafia, Tinubu western gangsters of Yoruba land, and Buhari loyalist, including Obasanjo who has fallen out with GEj coalescing to spell the end of PDP. I do not see GEJ surrendering the PDP ticket quickly.

While I would have preferred a two party system, I do not see PDP surviving as a political party one they loose the presidency because the party is mainly opportunists who are held together by the loots of our land. remove the loot and they will scatter.

Let keep watching.

My Advice to Amechi, take your time. Do not show your hand now.

Go to Court to challenge; only to pretend as if PDP is an option to you.

Wait till late 2014 to fight to finish.

We know we are seeing the last of PDP.

A fool will always be a fool. One guy once said scrotum do not grow on a Mango tree. We are born with it.
GEJ was not born with one and he will never get it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY MAN. You made my day by exposing clueless GEJ for what he is. We need more people like you.

TheBookWorm: Those animals were of Nigerian descent. Why are some Nigerians in denial? Do their names sound English? No.

Do some people actually think that Nigerians are not capable of such despicable acts?

Look at what is happening in Northern Nigeria with the despicable horrors that occur up there daily.

They bear Nigerian names but in no way have Nigerian influence. They were trained and groomed in Britain. Get it into your slavish head.

jerusalem101: well! it's a pity these Men all died in the Line of duty for their fatherland, the amazing factor about the whole thing, is the manner at which the SSS is going about the 10 officers who were brutally murdered along side 85 policemen officers.The media has been replete with the stories of our the sss have seriously been lamenting over the loss,the compensation of N10 million for each head and the unflinching concern and support shown to the families of the slain officers.
It make me wonder what is happening in other security forces,cause the lost of 10 men by the sss is like losing a whole community, what a show of love and support to these unfortunate officers. more grease to their elbow in the encouraging attitude shown to these men, cause it will definitely boost their confidence knowing that their service is behind them,a show equivalent with what i used to see in America,Britain and other development nation of the whole. Please when next the sss is selling their form someone should please inform me for necessary action but wonder if age will allow them accept me.

Which Fatherland?

They died serving stupid political interests. The same corrupt political interests that have kept our land down. They were wasted for nothing

I hate all unintelligent people. This goes to tell us that the Priest and Bishops are in it for what they can get and not for God. The more reason I don't feel a thing these days when I stay at home on sundays.

Biased people. When Fulani kills, we condemn Hausa-Fulani; but when they are killed, we celebrate their killers. Wake up Nigerians. Stop leaving in fools-paradise.

Babzilla: YOUNG MAN
FOR ME THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LOYALTY
RATHER IT IS BASED ON A MAN'S CHARACTER
ASK ANYONE WHO ATTENDED AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY BTW
(1998-2003) ESPECIALLY GEOGRAPHY DEPT
ASK HIS LECTURERS WHAT TYPE OF PERSON HE WAS
ANYONE WHO REALLY KNEW HIM THEN WOULD TESTIFY
THAT HE IS A CROOK. A SMOOTH TALKING, 2 FACED,
LYING CROOK. IN FACT FROM WHAT I HEARD
THE LECTURERS WERE SO EAGER TO GET RID OF THE
FOOL THEY EVEN FORGAVE HIM THE COURSES HE FAILED
AND FORWARDED HIS NAME FOR GRADUATION

Even if I accept he is a crook, is it not better we support him to expose the named corrupt ministers?

Methink we are better of supporting him in this case

tomber: The north and their conspiracy theories.
Well av never heard bh calling Jonathans name before detonating a bomb. Neither did MEND drag God into their struggles. They were not intrested in killing or burning down fellow nija delterns property...
The North keeps pointin a finger to d south while pointn 4 at themselvs. The north must learn to blame herself first.

Sorry, I am not a northerner. I am Igbo from Enugu state. I am just a detrabalised Nigerian that tries to see things from an objective mind

Capnd143: this is their logo[img]http://beegeagle.files./2013/05/546032_248488531963530_2111647571_n2.jpg[/img]

Archaic logo. Crude unintelligent power. That was the same power you wanted to show in Nasarawa when a simple shrine man, took the lives of over 100 policemen. Shameless idoits

papaejima1: Any yeye human right wey watch them too much will receive one bullet in the eye...
One man One bullet.

The bullet will come your way. You will not die, but will live to feel the pains of what you wish others.

slap1: If you follow the EPL, you will know that Arsenal don't lose games at this point. Even the refs will be instructed to favour us. Let's do it! #COYG!

That is my fear. The way they stole the match against Norwich

dgitrader: Take a tour of SE/SS regions, and take note of all the facilities and institutions that were established since the resumption of civilian rule in 1999. do u still hear shouts of marginalization? fine, this govt isnt doing the best for now, but go and ask people on ground, what are the noticeable difference between this era and that of 3 decades of northern military oligarchies. my dear, it was 3 decades of dark ages for the SE/SS. LISTING THE ITEMS HERE WOULD ONLY GENERATE UNNECESSARY/BIGOTRY ARGUMENTS. ITS TOO EARLY FOR THAT. JUST TAKE A TOUR.

I am from the South east but could not lay my hand on any of the so called developments

GEJ is afraid and is mobilising his Ccriminal brothers back to the creek. The South south should bring a capable hand for the President but not a clueless GEJ. I don't care where the President is from. My concern is that I want good and capable governance

Ladies and gentleman,

Like Militants, Like Boko Hamram, Like Massob, like these. All are manifestations of a failing state.

We can see the level of intelligence of our so-called security forces here. We can understand why Boko Haram has over-powered them.

We can see how "Agberos" have hijacked our government and ran it for their personal and tribes interests. We can see how the injustices in our land always gave rise to bigger crises.

Most importantly, we can infer how nepotism and corruption have allowed grossly incompetent people have taken over our leadership.

Nigeria must change or most of us will perish

calaway: Why dont you advocate for justice and truth? Ask the commissioner why he sent 100 police men to the village on the instructions of the state governor without getting clearance for Abuja i dnt mean the IG but the PSC or executive? Two people are at way here (EGGON AND THE EVER TROUBLESOME FULANI) and the fulani decide to use administrative advantage (police) who have been ordered to kill as many eggon as possible but good fortune was on the side of the eggons and the reverse was the case, however it happened.
As a nation we need to call these group of people to order. The army dares not step foot in this matter. the FG need to invite the eggon and discuss this incident and I am we will learn that they acted in self defense if actually the killed this operative. for all we know it may be a setup to frame the eggons(boko haram killing two birds with one stone) Eggon people are not blood thirsty!!!

Thanks for being smart. It can only be holy spirit that revealed this to you.

Sunny_bobo: World Bank raises Nigeria’s economic rating
TUESDAY, 07 MAY 2013 20:07 FROM MATHIAS OKWE, ABUJA BUSINESS SERVICES - BUSINESS NEWS
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FOR reducing the level of endemic poverty in the country, the World Bank has promoted Nigeria from a low income country ranking to a medium  income position with the privilege of borrowing from the Breton Wood’s elite club, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).     The decision elevating the country’s rating , according to the World bank Country Director for Nigeria , Ms. Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, was taken at the last month’s Spring  meeting of the World Bank / International monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington.

She said the decision was taken after a review of the Nigeria’s economic indication revealed that there was a reduction in poverty rate per capita  in the country which has now dipped to 62.6 per cent from 64.2 per cent as well as improvement in revenue accretion.

The World Bank boss, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on the post-Spring meetings, said the implication of the promotion was that Nigeria now would have more  access to resources from its creditors as it becomes eligible to borrow not only from the International Development Association (IDA) but also from the  International Bank for Reconstruction And Development (IBRD).

She said: “ This follows the Bank’s resolve to give the country a ‘blend’ status in its 2014-2017 Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) document which would be release later this year. The  blend status, which is for a period of six to seven years applies to countries with  gross national income per capita of about $1,170."

Nigeria,  before now, has been eligible to borrow  only from IDA, which offered a 40-year payment plan with a 10-year grace period at no interest rate charge. Beneficiaries only pay a service charge of about 0.75 per cent.

The  decision also followed the growth in Nigeria’s  revenue as her gross national income per capita had reached about $1,200 in the past two years, prompting the Bank to undertake  an upgrade from its current IDA only status.

She  however explained that  the country would continue to benefit from both resources for seven years although the repayment conditions would now be reviewed.

While on the new status, the country would now adapt to new repayment plans as the IDA condition would change.

She gave further insight into the new plan : “Instead of having 40 year repayment it will be 25 year-repayment; the grace period moves down from 10 years to five years and you have an interest rate of about 1.3 to 1.5 per cent.”

During the six to seven-year period, allocations fom the IDA is expected to be reviewed and phased out gradually while  the IBRD allocation steps in as the only borrowing window.

She said: “So during these period, Nigeria will have more resources until it moves to the IBRD window.”

 http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121088:world-bank-raises-nigerias-economic-rating&catid=31:business&Itemid=562

I will never believe World bank and IMF. They are Economic mercenaries that are here to serve the interest of the West. These people trapped us into debt in the early 1970's; they packed SAP that destroyed our economy. They liaised with Okwonjo Iwela to take away our 16billion dollars to refund their Banks when the Mortgage crises hit their banks.

Today, they very people that wasted our savings in the name of debt repayment, is back to lure us into more debt.

GEJ should be at least as creative as Buhari/Idiagbon in running our economy. I remember the counter trading of that era.